RSS Feed
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Bald eagle a symbol of nation's freedom The bald eagle is a symbol of the United States and of freedom worldwide. However, the eagle almost became extinct. Alabama played a significant role in saving this important national treasure and the week of the Fourth of July is a good time to recognize the eagle's comeback. In 1963 only 417 mating pairs of bald eagles were known in the continental United States. Today, there are an estimated 9,789 pairs. The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources played an important role in bringing the eagle back. The department introduced 91 juvenile bald eagles into the wild between 1985 and 1991. As of last year, some 77 bald eagle nests were documented in the state, an increase of 21 percent over the previous year. Many of these nests are along the Alabama and Tombigbee rivers. Local fishermen, hunters and outdoor lovers frequently spot the big birds along our waterways. No doubt, the Choctaw National Wildlife Refuge along the Tombigbee River north of Coffeeville in neighboring Choctaw played a big role in the eagles' return to south Alabama. A bald eagle hatching program was started there in the early 1990s and the refuge continues to play a role in hosting nesting eagles each winter.
State and federal conservation officials are to be saluted for their successful efforts to save this national symbol.
|
for larger version       |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
